Buenos Aires Tetra Care Guide
Hemigrammus caudovittatus is a hardy, relatively large tetra from the Rio de la Plata basin, tolerant of cooler water but known to nibble soft plants.
Overview
The Buenos Aires tetra is a hardy, relatively large characin marked with red-tipped fins and a bold black cross at the caudal peduncle. It is one of the most durable aquarium tetras and is now treated by Wikipedia and FishBase as Psalidodon anisitsi.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae (order Characiformes)
- Genus: Hemigrammus
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus caudovittatus
- Common synonyms: Psalidodon anisitsi
Habitat
The species ranges throughout the Rio de la Plata basin (Parana and Uruguay river systems) in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southeastern Brazil, occurring in rivers, ponds, lakes and streams (Wikipedia, FishBase).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 120 L
- Temperature: 18-26 °C (FishBase classifies it as subtropical)
- pH: 6.5-8.0
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 7.5 cm (Wikipedia); FishBase reports up to 13.2 cm TL
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-8 years (Wikipedia notes 5-6 years)
Diet
It is omnivorous; in the wild it feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plants. In the aquarium it takes live, fresh and flake foods, and benefits from added vegetable matter. It will nibble soft aquarium plants.
Compatibility
It is a robust schooler that may nip long-finned tankmates, especially when underfed. Suitable companions include larger tetras and bristlenose plecos; long-finned species are best avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-scatterer; FishBase notes spawning occurs among plants with eggs hatching in about 20-24 hours, and parents should be removed to prevent them eating the fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (as Psalidodon anisitsi): Least Concern (assessed 2021).